Many organizations still rely on outdated proximity (or prox) cards for their access control systems. Customers often assume their access credentials are secure, but the reality is that prox cards can be cloned in seconds with inexpensive tools.

See for yourself in this short video.

As an integrator, these vulnerabilities aren’t just a user problem—they’re a risk to your reputation, workflow, and customer relationships. Emergency calls, rushed upgrades, and lost trust can be a direct result. The risk really isn’t “if”, it’s “when”. .

The Risk of Prox, Unpacked

Prox cards operate at 125 kHz, a frequency too limited to support encryption. Without encryption, when your prox card transmits data to the reader, it essentially copies and pastes the exact “password” needed for entry. This exact password is also what an RFID copier reads, and sequentially writes, onto a new blank prox card.

On the flip side, when a credential is encrypted, it would transform that “password” into a series of seemingly random data before sending it to a reader or RFID copier.

While a reader would be equipped with the encryption key needed to convert the encrypted data back to the original password, an RFID copier would never be able to make sense of it, leaving your credential secure and unbreachable. 

‍

Every cloned prox card represents an avoidable security gap. Integrators are uniquely positioned to guide customers through these risks, helping them upgrade access credentials before a breach occurs.

Real-World Examples

• College campus IDs cloned 
• Apartment building key fobs duplicated for pool access
• Corporate access credentials copied to gain unauthorized entry
  
  

Even a single compromised prox card can escalate into a serious breach, potentially compromising sensitive data, employee safety, and customer trust. For integrators, these incidents often translate into urgent remediation calls and strained client relationships.

Beyond operational risks, statistics highlight the bigger picture:

• Average cost of a data breach (IBM 2025): $4.4M
• Credential abuse accounts for 22% of breaches (Verizon 2025)
• Regulatory fines can reach $50,000 per violation
  
  

These numbers demonstrate that ignoring outdated prox cards and access credentials isn’t just risky for customers—it can affect your business too. And again, it’s no longer a matter of “if”, but “when”.

How Integrators Can Take Action

Helping customers transition from legacy access credentials to modern, encrypted systems is about more than hardware - it’s about trust and expertise. Here’s how integrators can lead the way:

1. Assess Current Systems: Identify weak points and vulnerabilities in legacy systems - including the credential.
   
   
2. Educate Customers: Explain the risks of outdated access credentials and benefits of modern systems.
   
   
3. Plan Phased Upgrades: Recommend cost-effective strategies that minimize disruption.
   
   
4. Implement Modern Credentials: Deploy encrypted smart cards or mobile access credentials.
   
   
5. Stay Ahead of Emerging Threats: Continuously monitor industry trends, evolving attack methods, and new technologies so you can proactively guide customers before vulnerabilities turn into problems.
   
   

By taking a proactive approach, integrators help clients reduce risk, improve compliance, and protect their people and assets - while safeguarding their own professional reputation.

Timing and Planning Are Critical

The longer a customer relies on prox cards, the higher the risk. Phased approaches and careful planning ensure upgrades happen without operational downtime while keeping budgets under control. Modern access credentials don’t just enhance security—they also unlock features customers value, like mobile access and simplified credential management.

Integrators who act as trusted advisors can help customers navigate this complex landscape, turning potential vulnerabilities into opportunities to demonstrate expertise and reliability.

Take the Lead on Secure Access

Legacy systems  and access credentials, like prox cards, aren’t just less secure — they’re inherently insecure. Every integrator has the opportunity to guide customers safely into modern access control, ensuring stronger security, smoother transitions, and stronger client trust.

Don’t wait until a breach triggers an emergency call. Lead your customers to secure, future-ready access credentials today.

‍

‍

Start by downloading the free transition guide to learn about transition strategies and share it with your customers or watch how easy it is to clone legacy tech.

‍